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Lincoln’s Josiah Miller hit a 2-run home run in the first inning, the only runs scored in the game that saw the Trojans win the Region 1-8A final over Wharton at Lincoln High School on Friday, May 26, 2017.
Joe Rondone/Democrat

Lincoln (24-6), which has now won 17 consecutive games, will play Nova High (24-3) at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 2nd at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers in the semifinal match-up.

The winner of that game will take on the winner of the semifinal match-up between Sarasota High (23-9) and Hagerty High (25-9) in the state championship game at 4:05 p.m. on June 3rd.

The Trojans got two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run by sophomore third baseman Josiah Miller over the wall in right field.

“Jojo’s the spark plug,” Pollock said.

“He’s always doing stuff to get us going, and when he did that, it really set a fire in me. I just didn’t want to let them down.”

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Lincoln’s Josiah Miller hit a 2-run home run in the first inning, the only runs scored in the game that saw the Trojans win the Region 1-8A final over Wharton on Friday.(Photo: Joe Rondone/Democrat)

Pollock, a senior left-hander and Florida State signee, shut down the Wildcats (18-9) all game, giving up just two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in a complete-game performance.

It was his fourth straight complete-game shut out in the playoffs, which started with a district semifinal win over Leon and extending to two wins over Jacksonville Oakleaf and Jacksonville Fletcher in the first two rounds.

“That’s amazing,” Gauger said.

“(He’s) just throwing strikes and getting ahead. Being able to throw more than one pitch in the strike zone really keeps the guys off balance. He throws pretty hard, but he can throw the change-up and curveball anywhere he wants. It really helps out a lot.”

Pollock dominated the game with a low-90s fastball and a mid-70s change up.

“I’m locating the fastball on both sides of the plate,” Pollock said.

“I’ve had a decent feel for all three pitches as well so I’ve been able to mix it up and not just throw fastball after fastball.”

After the first inning, Wharton’s senior starter Austin Appel (7-2) settled down, but ultimately took the loss. His sidearm approach caused issues for the Trojan hitters, and kept them off-balance. He threw five innings giving up two runs on two hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

“We got those two runs really quick, and then that kid pitched phenomenal,” Gauger said.

“He kept us off balance, and the next thing you know, you’re in the sixth inning and you only have those two hits.”

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Lincoln’s pulls a back flip in celebration of the Trojans 2-0 Region 1-8A final win over Wharton at Lincoln High School on Friday, May 26, 2017.
(Photo: Joe Rondone/Democrat)